State-based method and apparatus for evaluating the performance of a control system

An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a control system, comprising:

• memory including a plurality of testing functions;
• and
• state machine logic including a plurality of logic states and configured to perform the steps of:
• determining a first logic state representative of a first condition of the control system based on data received from the control system;
• executing a first testing function associated with the first logic state;
• transitioning to a second logic state representative of a second condition of the control system based on at least one of the received data and output from the first testing function;
• executing a second testing function included in the electronic device and associated with the second logic state;
• and
• providing a diagnosis of the performance of the control system based on the output of at least one of the first testing function and the second testing function.

An apparatus for evaluating the performance of a control system, comprising:

• memory including a plurality of testing functions;
• and
• means for detecting a plurality of transition events respectively associated with a plurality of logic states respectively representative of a plurality of conditions of the control system based on data received from the control system;
• means for executing at least a first one of the testing functions associated with a first one of the logic states when a first one of the conditions exists, and for executing at least a second one of the testing functions associated with a second one of the logic states when a second one of the conditions exists;
• and
• means for providing a diagnosis of the performance of the control system based on output of at least one of the first testing function and the second testing function.